Shloka 24

Acyuta/Vāsudeva Stotra: Avatāra-Salutations, Ritual Totality, Forgiveness Prayer, and Phalaśruti

Devanagari script

त्वमाधारस्त्वं ह्यनन्तस्त्वं कूर्मःस्त्वं धराम्बुजम् / धर्मज्ञानादयस्त्वं हि वेदिमण्डलशक्तयः

Transliteration

tvamādhārastvaṃ hyanantastvaṃ kūrmaḥstvaṃ dharāmbujam / dharmajñānādayastvaṃ hi vedimaṇḍalaśaktayaḥ

Translation

Engkaulah sandaran segala; sesungguhnya Engkaulah Ananta; Engkaulah Kūrma (jelmaan kura-kura); Engkaulah teratai bumi. Sesungguhnya Engkau sendiri adalah Dharma, Pengetahuan, dan yang lainnya; dan Engkaulah kuasa-kuasa yang bersemayam dalam lingkaran altar suci (vedi-maṇḍala).

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आधारः: (are) the support
• आधारः: Pradhāna-predicative (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/indeed)

• अनन्तः: (are) the infinite one
• अनन्तः: Pradhāna-predicative (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कूर्मः: (are) Kūrma (tortoise incarnation)
• कूर्मः: Pradhāna-predicative (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• धरा-अम्बुजम्: (are) the earth-lotus (the earth)
• धरा-अम्बुजम्: Pradhāna-predicative (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरा (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (धरैव अम्बुजम् = earth-lotus; i.e., the earth like a lotus / earth-lotus)

• धर्म-ज्ञान-आदयः: (are) dharma, knowledge, and the rest
• धर्म-ज्ञान-आदयः: Pradhāna-predicative (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समाहार/सूच्य-समासः (धर्मज्ञानादयः = dharma, knowledge, etc.)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic)

• वेदि-मण्डल-शक्तयः: (are) the powers of the altar-maṇḍala
• वेदि-मण्डल-शक्तयः: Pradhāna-predicative (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदि (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वेदिमण्डलस्य शक्तयः)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinātā-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu as the foundational support (ādhāra), as Ananta and Kūrma (stabilizing cosmic functions), and as the very principles of dharma and jñāna; sacred powers reside in the altar-circle.

Vedantic Theme: Unity of cosmic order (ṛta/dharma), knowledge, and divine power; the Lord as substratum of both cosmos and ritual; avatāra as functional manifestation of the same Absolute.

Application: Stabilize life by embodying dharma and seeking knowledge as expressions of devotion; treat ritual space (home altar) as a field of śakti—keep it clean, intentional, and ethically aligned.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-symbolic and ritual

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (general): cosmological and devotional identifications of Viṣṇu with supports of the world; ritual-vedi references in worship contexts.

Characters & Entities

• Ananta
• Kūrma
• Vedi
• Maṇḍala
• Śakti

FAQs

What is the importance of calling Vishnu the 'Ādhāra' (support) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Vishnu as the metaphysical ground of all existence—avatars, cosmic order (dharma), and ritual power—so devotion and dharma are rooted in the same ultimate reality.

How does this verse relate to Vedic ritual practice (vedi-maṇḍala)?

By identifying Vishnu with the vedi-maṇḍala-śaktis, the verse teaches that the sanctity and efficacy of yajña-space and its ritual energies ultimately arise from Vishnu’s presence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

See ethical living (dharma) and genuine learning (jñāna) as forms of worship, and treat ritual or prayer spaces as reminders of the same divine foundation sustaining life.